Mason Gregory Garka

I wish I could start this post by saying that I make it my daily mission to begin each day with an attitude of gratitude. It is something I wish I did. No something I am starting to do. (or at least trying to do). Thankfully (like what I did here J ) it is November the month to give thanks. How could I not remember this month? All you have to do is open some social media site and you will be reminded… Because someone, somewhere is yelling at you through some sort of device what they are thankful today. Some of my favorites this far:   Today I am thankful for “adult” beverage   I am thankful for holidays that don’t force me to reflect on being thankful   I really like reading what your thankful for… Said no one ever I am thankful that spiders don’t fly Every Thanksgiving I am thankful for stretchy pants Black Friday: Because only in America do people trample on and other for sales just one day after reflecting what they are thankful for Names have ...

Maybe I am coming late to this party. By now we all know the story of Brittany Maynard. The 29 year old who is choosing to take her own life before cancer takes it from her.  All you need to do is google Brittany Maynard and 6.4 millions hits come up. So I am joining the conversation late.  Except I am not conversing I am simply writing her a letter she may or may not ever see. Dear Brittany, I am so sorry. I am sorry you are terminal. I am sorry you have no hope. I am sorry you have given up and most of all I am sorry others have given up on you. When we know someone is suicidal we don’t encourage them. Instead, we wrap our arms around them, we tell them we love them and we work to get them help. We intervene. I am sorry that few have jumped into intervene for you. Maybe it is due to their belief that you are better off dead or that they are afraid that it would be selfish to ask you to suffer on their behalf. Wow. Brittany, There is more...

Where to begin. Things within my life are beginning to change and the feeling of unsettlement cannot be escaped or dismissed.  The natural question you are probably asking me through your screen is “WHAT is changing”.  That’s the million dollar question. It is almost like a "shift." I can't put my finger on it. But it is changing. What am I supposed to do about this - I don't know. Thankfully today just when I needed it I came across this scripture: Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart…” I am not sure there could be a more fitting verse for me today. Today. In this moment it brings me a feeling of peace and I remember that all within His time will His plan be revealed. My job remains. Wait on the Lord. I know that you have all been anxiety awaiting a lot of photos from our make a wish trip and I assure you there are thousands (yes thousands) to share but with the events that have unfolded in...

To gain readers you must write . I was all in to for the writing portion in fact I was super excited to start a social media movement (WOW that sounds bigger than I meant it to) titled #silentsunday. You can read all about what I WANTED to do HERE!   These were my ideas not His… You are  probably  thinking this is the time when I start to tell you how busy we have been helping to plan the Oso Strong 5k and that has gotten in the way of writing.  NO. Not where this is going although being apart of something like that has been one of the most amazing experiences in of my life. Don't know what the Oso Strong 5k is? You can read he article written by the   Everett Heral d. Just click the blue link... At the same time I launched #silentsunday I got another message from the Lord. The message was to be silent and more thoughtful in what I shared.  I remember thinking… This is weird timing. Why do I have such a passion to share and now ...

Not sure when it exactly happens but sometime around Thanksgiving I blinked and I was suddenly surrounded by and in the FULL BLOWN Christmas season. I shouldn't be but am always amazed at how quickly time goes by... I feel like it was just yesterday we were enjoying the warmth of the summer and now we are hunkered down ready for the snow to come. Any day now, my son inherited my patience... There is something about this time of year that is special. I believe it to be a combination... We spend time celebrating our Savior, we get to spend extra time with all of the people we love the most, and CHILDREN. Children make this time of year extra special. It is magical for them which makes it magical to me. Just like anything in life there is the flip side. This time of year also comes with sadness. It is a time when I miss the ones who have left us. I guess I should re-phrase this a little bit. I miss them all daily but the holidays seem to bring out how much a little more....

Tonight we celebrated Thanksgiving with our family. Yes a week early but when you have "many" family obligations and you work in retail it is really the only way to get quality time together. Although this year I get THREE days off this week... Did someone forget Black Friday is 4 days away? Is this a joke? Someone pinch me, quick?!?!?! Back to what I was saying... We ate to much, took our sugar high children home and put them to bed. Lucky for us they crashed. Then we started our nightly routine of picking up from the days disaster... Am I the only Mom who feels like their home is a "construction zone" with messes everywhere???? Needless to say... Tonight while picking up I came across a journal I kept while Mason was in the hospital (the first time, right after he was born). Not sure how this magically appeared but I am pretty sure Mason actually found it and started to claim it as his personal art book. On the top of each of the pages I had written the ...

The other day I was snuggling with my FIVE year old before bed time. I must admit I love this time of day. We have slowed down and if done right my house is calm. Mason is a snuggler so this is the only time of day where he will sit or lay with me for an extended period of time. Outside of bed time... He is go go go! During our night time snuggles I get to rub his back, tell him stories, breath in his sweetness and tell him as many times as I want how much I love him (without him getting annoyed). "I love you ONE THOUSAND FIFTEEN" he says to me. How can that not make a moms heart just melt. Then there is my precious Kendall. She is 15 months old and shows so much love and affection by her snuggles and kisses. My heart is overwhelmed by both of my babies! However my "babies" are not babies anymore. I have a five year old who is smart as a whip, sharp as a knife who doesn't let anything get by him and a 15 month old with a will of iron, best smile and t...

This Feburary will be our 6th blog anniversary. The intent in creating this blog was to inform friends and family on Mason and his progress as he fought for his life. FIVE years later and he is busy ENJOYING HIS LIFE!!!! So things in our house have shifted. We are (as we will always be) focused on Mason and his heart health but as long as the good Lord lets us we are going to enjoy this life together as a family and rest in knowing that his life is in his hands.... This brings me to the purpose of this post. We are no longer a family ONLY focused on Mason. We are a family of four! So over the next few months this blog will continue to evolve. At this point I am not entirely sure how, I just know that it needs to.... I cant wait to see how the Lord uses me, my family and this blog in the near future. Until then I wait!

There was a moment that stood out to me when we first found out about Mason and his heart condition. In more of a casual conversion a doctor made the comment "if he lives to see his 5th Birthday... What will his quality of life be?" There was so much unknown at the time and I was praying to make it a day let alone five years... five years at the time might have well been an eternity away. This comment has played in my mind almost everyday since and today we have arrived. IT IS MASON'S 5TH BIRTHDAY! I have literally been praying for this day for ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE DAYS days! This is our milestone and I am trying hard to let it all sink in. HIS BEAUTIFUL LIFE                  Today I also cant help but to look back...Our post on Mason's " BIRTHDAY" (5 years ago): Mason has Arrived! Friends, ...